New Era in Toronto Began With Massey Hall
Concert Hall Is World Class Venue with Excellent Acoustics
Aug 15, 2009
Wealthy industrialist Hart Massey gifted Toronto with the concert hall in memory of his son. He wanted it to be a spacious, comfortable, and substantial auditorium that “would aid the development of the arts". Because of its size, style, and excellent acoustics, Massey Music Hall as it was then known, quickly earned its reputation as an excellent venue.
Music Festival Grand Opening for Massey Hall
It opened with a five-concert inaugural festival June 14, 1894 that featured a large chorus and the Grand Festival Orchestra performing Handel’s Messiah.
There was nothing but praise for the “splendid building with its artistic decorations and expansive greatness” in newspaper reports of the event.
The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir with 167 members was formed to appear at Massey Hall. Since its first performance January 15, 1895, the Choir has become world renowned.
Internationally Famous Venue in Toronto
The Hall with the excellent acoustics soon attracted many leading musicians, singers, and lecturers.
- On October 10, 1901, the future King George V and Queen Mary of England arrived late for a concert. The orchestra (New York Symphony) quickly interrupted an aria and played “God Save the King”.
- Winston Churchill talked about his Boer war experiences to capacity audiences December 29, 1900 and January 2, 1901.
- World-famous operatic tenor Enrico Caruso made his Toronto debut at Massey Hall on May 4, 1908.
- The performance of prima ballerina Anna Pavlova and her troupe on October 20, 1910 increased ballet’s popularity in Toronto. She gave at least ten performances at Massey Hall between 1910 and 1924.
- Leopold Stokowski conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra at the first concert of the Mendelssohn Choir’s new choirmaster, Herbert Fricker February 18, 1918.
From Enrico Caruso to Oscar Peterson and Glenn Gould
- In 1920, Enrico Caruso set a new box office record. Following his full concert, he went out onto the fire escape to sing an aria for the crowd gathered on Shuter Street.
- On April 23, 1923, the fifty-eight member New Symphony Orchestra (later named the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) debuted at Massey Hall.
- Canada’s great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson made his debut at the Hall in 1946.
- At the age of thirteen, pianist Glenn Gould debuted at Massey Hall with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra.
- In December 1948, the great performer Paul Robeson appeared for two evenings with the Jewish Folk Choir.
Jazz at Massey Hall, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Canadian Legendary Musicians
- “Jazz at Massey Hall”, the legendary concert with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach, and Charles Mingus was recorded May 1953.
- Eleanor Roosevelt participated in a meeting of the United Nations Association of Canada May 19, 1955.
- Paul Robeson’s sold-out appearance at Massey Hall in February 1956 began with a standing ovation. He sang traditional, classical, and folk music, delivered several readings, and then concluded with a strong statement about freedom.
- Gordon Lightfoot made his first solo appearance at the Hall in 1967, and became the performer with the largest number of solo performances there.
- Neil Young was featured in a solo, acoustic performance January 19, 1971, that included several of his new, unreleased songs, such as “Heart of Gold” and “Old Man”.
- As part of their successful tour, Joni Mitchell and L. A. Express entertained at Massey Hall February 2, 1974.
The Hall has been used for a wide variety of events that included multi-school concerts, union conferences, and lectures.
Massey Hall, affectionately known as “The Grand Old Lady of Shuter Street” (though its entrance is at 178 Victoria Street), earned its position as a world-class concert venue equal to that of Carnegie Hall in New York.
Through four renovations, its quality has not been lost. It was declared a Heritage Building by the City of Toronto on June 20, 1973, and continues to be an important site for cultural and entertainment events.
Sources:
Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
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